Half way through June already!!

Hi Family and Friends;

We are still finding places to explore and enjoy on our days off here in Costa Rica.  For such a small country it certainly has it's share of interesting sites.  I'm not sure what we'll do the second half of our mission, but we sure are enjoying the first.  Of course, the temple service is the greatest and we can see more and more members coming each month.  Ted has done a great job in calling the Bishops each Saturday so they can remind their members to mark their calendars for a certain day of the week for their temple attendance.  Between that and our weekly visits each Sunday I really think it is making a difference.  Last week the temple missionaries explored a small town called Sarchí.  They are known for their hand made carts (of all sizes) and household decorations. 

This church is in Sarchi and was constructed in the late 1800's.  It is made of metal panels make in Belguim.  The story goes that someone had ordered hundreds of metal panels and never picked them up at the dock.  Finally, it was decided to ship them to Sarchi where they built this beautiful church.  The panels were shipped by train to San Jose (about 30 miles away from Sarchi) and then arrived by a ox carts.  

Ted is standing just to the side of the entrance next to one of the soldered panels. It was an amazing fete. 

At the entrance of the city in the town square is a giant replica of the carts made here.  They are hand painted with beautiful colors and designs.  I bought a small napkin holder that looks almost exactly like the cart above plus a small serving tray.  I told myself I wasn't going to buy any souvenirs during this mission but couldn't resist.  

This is our group of missionaries.  The first counselor and his wife couldn't make it that day.  We will be losing the couples in the middle and on the left as their missions will be over in December.  We will really be hurting if we can't find people to replace them, plus we will miss them a lot.

The carts are hand made from start to finish.  

This is a waterwheel that runs all the machinery that is used in making and constructing the carts.  Everything is as it was many, many years ago when the company was established.

After leaving Sarachi we stopped at this unique garden.  They sculpt the garden with different animals, designs and arches such as the ones above.

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Luckily, we brought our rain ponchos.  It started to rain, lightening and thunder as it does most every day around 3:00 p.m.  

The end of May the Haws,Ted and I went to Arenal.   This beautiful peacock was really strutting his stuff and showing off his beautiful feathers at our hotel  

I felt totally anxious about zip lining.  I figured if everyone else could do it so could I.

I'm putting on a great act.  I really didn't feel this happy.

For those of you who doubted this is really me, having the time of my life.  It really is fun and a thrill cruising above the lush jungle.

At one of the platforms between lines we saw this beautiful yellow snake in a tree close by.  We were told it was one of the most venomous in Costa Rica. 

Orchids grow wild here, all types and colors.

This ingenious shed was at our small hotel.  They do their own laundry.  Not having a dryer they used this to dry their sheets and towels.  There are two seasons in Costa Rica, wet and dry.  Right now it is the rainy season and thus the indoor clothes line.   

This is Arenal.  It is still classified as an active volcano.  The last activity was in 2013.

In Arenal there is a huge hot springs resort.  We enjoyed the afternoon in one or two of the 25 pools.  They range in different temperatures and sizes.  There are big water slides and a pool for kids as well.

Ted enjoying a hot water shower.  

The resort includes a hotel and a beautiful buffet restaurant.  We didn't stay here ($200 a night)
but we sure enjoyed the pools and a delicious meal to end our little vacation.

In each city in the country there is always a church with a park close by.  We enjoyed our last few hours walking the town and checking out the souvenir shops.  We have decided that each town has the same things in each store.

We may have to change from once a month blog to every other month as we are running out of places to see and do.  Have a wonderful month of June.  We love and miss you all.

Mom & Dad, Ted & Sharon

March Activities

Wow, another month flies by.  March has been hot and windy but we are loving it here.  It was wonderful getting back to our regular schedule after the two week closure.  The first counselor and his wife should be here next Monday after having been in Arizona for about two months.  Their daughter was in a traffic accident and wasn't expected to live but the doctor's say she is a miracle and has returned home for a long recuperation process.

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Last night was our monthly FHE with all the senior missionaries from the temple, the mission office, PEF office and one couple who are working on reactivation of the less active members in northern Costa Rica.  It was held across the street from us at the Haws home.She always goes all out with a theme and decorations.  We had Cafe Rio food.  It tasted as good or better as we remember at home.  

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Today Ted couldn't wait any longer to perfect his yard.  This is our back yard, 6ft deep and about 30 ft long.  He's got everything growing and there isn't a weed in sight.  

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Each week we have Monday and Tuesday to explore and enjoy the company of all our temple missionaries.  We went to a beautiful place called The Water Gardens of La Paz.  The vegatation was unbelieveable and there was a small zoo with animals from Costa Rica.  We had a delicious buffet for lunch too.

This is a Tuacan that are found in the jungles here.  Usually, there is a worker in the enclosure and he will put them on the visitors shoulder, arm, head, etc.  But no one was around when we visited that particular enclosure.  I was disappointed as I definitely wanted a picture.  We don't see them in the area where we live.  So far we have only seen the small green parrots in the city.  They congregate together in flocks and are so noisy it's hard to hear anything else. 

This is such a beautiful specie of parrot with brillant blue feathers and a yellow bill.  

There was also an enclosure full of butterflys that landed on our clothes, hands, arms, etc. and a display of cocoons in different stages of development. 

This is a white faced monkey, one of many.  There were other species as well.  But these little guys were very active and fun to watch. We saw several in the wild when we visited the town of Manuel Antonio in the south of the country on the Pacific Coast.

One of three kinds of leopards found in Costa Rica.  Usually in the zoos in the states, the animals are always hiding, but these were very active and entertaining.

Ted made friends with this set of male Bramha bulls.  The fellow sitting on the wall was in charge of them and said that when they are in the harness they are very calm and docile.  When they are loose in their corral they are not friendly at all.  It was a fun day and all enjoyed the new site.

These are our missionary grandsons.  Elder Jackman, the one on top is in Jersey, England.  Elder Riley, bottom, is in Caldwell, Idaho.  Both are seeing success and we are very, very proud of them.  They are best friends and both left last August.  We have another grandson who will be leaving in June with a call to Moscow, Russia.  We are praying that things will settle down in that area.  There is a possibility that his mission may be changed. He definitely won't be happy if that happens.  He is so looking forward to serving in Russia. 

                           

Ted and I visit a different ward or a branch three weeks out of each month.  We speak in Sacrament Meeting.  Ted, on the other hand, usually teaches during the S.S. or the third hour. He teaches both the youth and the adult members of the ward about the importance of the temple and its blessings.  After his talk to the youth this week, they wanted a picture with us.  This ward has four young men leaving on their missions the same month.  That is pretty unusual.   Well, that's it until next month.  We pray that each of you are well and happy. 

We love working with and serving the members here in this beautiful country and look forward to a year more of service in the temple along with weekly visits to the wards and branches.  

Love,
Mom, Dad,
Sharon & Ted